The pivotal document drafted at the Continental Congress in 1776 was the Declaration of Independence. Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, this foundational text articulated the colonies’ grievances against King George III and their justified claim for independence from British rule. The Declaration emphasized Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, asserting that all men are created equal and have unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. By formally declaring independence on July 4, 1776, the document served as a rallying cry for the colonies, uniting them in the struggle against British tyranny and laying the philosophical groundwork for the creation of the United States.